Removing grassy lawns always makes me happy. There are so many more interesting ways to create an awesome yard than just laying down grass. For this client, we did a total yard overhaul. The grass is gone, and instead, we have a lovely habitat for the birds and bees that travel through the neighborhood. We also took out the concrete walkway and added a lovely flagstone path to the front door. This adds an eye-catching element to the front entryway, and also allows for better drainage during the wetter months.

Here are some photos of the yard before we started the overhaul.

Setting flagstone is like a giant, very heavy jigsaw puzzle. It's a good brain tease, but it is also very labor intensive. It's nice to see the crew can still have fun with it. Here are a few photos of the flagstone patio going in.

The rest of the yard is also taking shape. Check back soon, I'll post more photos of this project as it rolls along!

Here at Stone Soup Gardens, we do our best to continue to nurture our brains, as often as we cultivate and tend to the plants and gardens in our care. Every month Stone Soupers pick an awesome organization or project in which to learn more about. Previous classes have included building mushroom beds, trimming fruit trees with Wallrath Fruit and Forest, and learning more about plant selection and uses.

At the end of January, we decided to check out an Earthship project that is happening right here in our own Columbia City neighborhood! The Seattle Trash Art Studio is in the process of being built. It all started at a meetup of Earthship enthusiasts in July of 2014. It was suggested that in order to be more than just a meetup group, the Earthship community needed to build a proof of concept project in the city. Roxanne, owner of the land and our tour guide extraordinaire said, "I have a house in the city! Let's do it." And so it began...

Through a fantastic community response of givers of random necessary materials, dirt moving volunteers, and time, the Seattle Trash Art Studio is becoming a reality. We were able to tour the structure, and learn more about the process from Florian, the designer who is helping to orchestrate this awesome trash production. Are you interested in learning more? Perhaps you'd like to volunteer at a work party and be a part of the fun? Find out more on the Seattle Trash Art Studio Facebook Page. The next work party is 'Dirt Dancing' on February 21st. Come and lend a hand!

If you'd like to know more about the Earthship movement - Check out this video:

Ahhh, it feels good to complete a project. Particularly one that involves a lot of demo. There is something so satisfying about the end result. I can't wait to see how this new space flourishes and develops. We've completed the small swale and raingarden, installed a tiered raised bed out of the recycled concrete we removed, installed a bit of grass, took down the collapsing fenceline, and planted a few trees and plants that will love this warm wet winter. I must say, Stone Soup Gardens has great clients, and I have an excellent team.